Student Association refuses to disclose trip participants
Slow to respond to trip records requests
By Jonathan Anderson
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“*I just don’t feel it’s proper to do that, when it is something SAO told us to be careful about.*”
- Amanda Voigtlander, Student Association Vice President
The Student Association at UWM (SA) is refusing to release the names of the SA members who went to a conference in New York City this past February.
In early march, the Post submitted a request to Rob Grover, President of the SA, for the names of the entire Student Association delegation who went on the trip.
Amanda Voigtlander, Vice President of the Student Association, said that the SA has taken the stance that it will not release the names without permission from each person who traveled.
When asked if the Student Association has a responsibility to its constituents to release the names, Voigtlander said the issue isn’t so clear.
“I don’t think it’s as easy as you’re making it sound,” said Voigtlander. “I just don’t feel it’s proper to do that, when it is something SAO told us to be careful about.”
Jennifer Lyon, Business Manager for the Student Activities Office (SAO) said she told the SA to be careful about disclosing private information like social security numbers, but that SA can still release whatever it chooses.
“It’s up to them to decide what they want to release,” said Lyon.
According to Voigtlander, the delegation that went on the trip has yet to meet to discuss whether or not they want their names released, despite the original request being submitted in early March.
The Post has also requested other records from the Student Association, including receipts, schedules and conference materials.
During the discussion about those requests, Voigtlander asked if the Post was wasting her time.
“I think it’s stupid, but I’ll do it,” said Voigtlander. “I just don’t know if you’re wasting my time to be funny.”
During the 2007 Student Association election, Grover and Voigtlander campaigned on open government. In an interview last year, Rob Grover, then presidential candidate running with SUFC, told the Post of his willingness to run an open SA.
“We want to be open and as transparent as possible,” said Grover. “Every student should be able to have a look at documents anytime, without any questions,”
Rob Grover was unwilling to be interviewed regarding the New York trip.
The UWM Post will have more coverage about the Student Association trip to New York in the coming weeks.
> Comments
AJ Piwarun on Apr 07, 2008 at 08:40 AM:
Jonathan, This is the second time you wrote a story without rewinding your tape recorder. First, you published a false document claiming SRG is running as a party for student government.
Now, you wrote an article that has cherry picked quotes created out of frusteration because you badgered an elected official. I implore anyone interested in Mr. Anderson's obvious bias to listen to the recording.
Unfortunately for the Post, Mr. Anderson, you alone are bringing down the reputation of the once successful paper. I suggest you find an assignment writing for something more of your journalistic style, like the Onion or the Sheperd Express.
passerby on Apr 07, 2008 at 09:39 AM:
I was a student passing through the office that afternoon, and it seemed like the post was harassing and pressuring VP Voigtlander to disclose information that really was not pertinent to the article. There was no reason for this reporter's behavior other than he wanted to harass the VP. This article is nothing more than an attempt to badger the student body into thinking that our executives are evasive and not truthful. In reality it's just obnoxious reporters who didn't get what they wanted when they wanted, and when she stood her ground, his panties got in a twist and so he published a whiny article.
Informed Observer on Apr 07, 2008 at 01:20 PM:
How come the Post is not asking other student organizations which members they select to send on junkets? Nepotism in selection of who goes where occurs in EVERY student organization. It is either nepotism or socialism.
Student Money on Apr 07, 2008 at 01:51 PM:
Don't we have the right to know? The SA Executives use our money and they should have full disclosure of how are money is spent. The SA ask student orgs to be in full disclosure of how money is spent, they should be held to the same standard. Also, The Post isn't the only paper who is interseted, ever hear of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Deputy Speaker AJ Piwaurn, needs to stop limiting Freedom of Speech, I thought Aj's support for the SA Sedition Act was a mistake. Is he trying to fool anyone?
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND on Apr 07, 2008 at 02:10 PM:
“We want to be open and as transparent as possible,” said Grover. “Every student should be able to have a look at documents anytime, without any questions,”
Are they flip flopping on transparency in student government?
WOW on Apr 09, 2008 at 10:02 AM:
Didn't Anderson used to do advertisements? Maybe he should just stick to what he's good at. WOW.
Anonymous on Apr 09, 2008 at 12:17 PM:
Speaking of withholding information Jonathan, why don't you disclose the contents of the email that ASAP was charged 100 points for?
In all fairness, making records public should go both ways.
The Truth on Apr 10, 2008 at 11:10 AM:
You all should know that Vice President Voigtlander was actually interviewed over a month ago. Don't efficient reports report the news when it happens? So, then ask yourself, why would he hold out on this story until APRIL??? COULD IT POSSIBLY BE BECAUSE THE ELECTIONS ARE NEXT WEEK?
Bradley Wooten, a reporter whom I very much respect, once told me that he would have been involved in student government, but he had to choose between journalism and student government. He was a very fair and neutral reporter throughout his career at UWM. It seems to me that John Anderson could learn a lot from him. REPORTERS SHOULD REPORT, NOT PLAY POLITICS. GET A CLUE JOHN ANDERSON!